NJT Presents Raging Skillet: A Delicious Mother-Daughter Dramedy

New Jewish Theatre (NJT) serves up the opening entrée to its 21st season with a tasty adaptation of celebrity Chef Rossi’s autobiographical memoir, Raging Skillet – equal parts book launch, cooking demonstration, heaping helping of comedy and a side of Jewish mother guilt. When Rossi’s Jewish mother discovers the microwave, home-cooked meals become a thing of the past. What starts as a rebellion against her Orthodox parents, chauvinism in the kitchen and the pressures of conformity ends with Rossi becoming New York’s #1 punk-rock, Jewish, Lesbian caterer. This hilarious and heartfelt new comedy is based on her true-life story.

"Raging Skillet will be a marvelously unique experience for the audience,” explains director Lee Anne Mathews. “It's a simple and sweet story about a daughter and her mother, wrapped in a package of rock-n-roll, hilarious comedy and delicious culinary treats. It's a literal smorgasbord of sights, sounds, tastes, and feels. I'm excited to bring this production to life and share it with the community. This will be unlike anything you've ever seen (or tasted) at The J!”

Edward Coffield is pleased to open his first season as Artistic Director of the NJT with this particular production. “We chose to open with this play because of its unique humor and mother-daughter dynamic. Chef Rossi, a fan favorite at the St. Louis Jewish Book Festival in 2015, and St. Louis seem to be bashert.” Rossi will be in St. Louis for rehearsals and the opening night performance to reconnect with her St. Louis fans.

Rossi is played by Sarajane Alverson and NJT’s Artistic Director Emeritus, Kathleen Sitzer, returns to the stage to portray Rossi’s Jewish mother. Erin Renee Roberts completes the cast as DJ Skillet, Rossi’s sous chef and part-time DJ who provides the soundtrack for the entire affair.

Raging Skillet runs October 4-21 at The J’s Wool Studio Theatre (2 Millstone Campus Drive St. Louis, MO 63146). Tickets for this delicious evening are $42-45 and include a sampling of Chef Rossi’s signature “anti-catering” recipes. Flex Pass, a five-ticket package customized for the ticket holder, season and single tickets are available through the NJT Box Office, 314-442-3283, or online at newjewishtheatre.org

Chef Rossi Bio

Rossi, yes, she only has one name -– has been a writer for many publications, such as The Daily News, The New York Post, Time Out New York and McSweeney's to name a few. She has been the food writer of the "Eat Me" column for Bust magazine since 1998, hosts her own hit radio show on WOMR in Cape Cod called "Bite This," now in its 14th season, has been featured on The Food Network and NPR, and is a popular blogger for The Huffington Post.

As owner and executive chef of The Raging Skillet, a cutting-edge catering company known for breaking any and all rules, she has earned a reputation as the one to call when it's time to do something different.

The Raging Skillet has been called "a new breed of rebel anti-caterer" by The New York Times, "the wildest thing this side of the mason Dixon line" by Zagat and has been named among The Knot’s Best of Wedding Caterers for 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 2015, 2016, 2017 and now 2018.

In November 2015, Rossi’s first memoir; The Raging Skillet/The True Life Story of Chef Rossi was published by the Feminist Press. The Raging Skillet was adapted for the stage by Jacques Lamarre. It has been thrilling and selling out audiences ever since. Rossi has just completed the screenplay for The Raging Skillet, and her second memoir, Escape from Kingston Avenue.

Some reviews for The Raging Skillet/The True Life Story of Chef Rossi:

“A humorous and witty chronicle of a woman’s pulling-herself-up-by-her-bootstraps rise through the culinary ranks.” —Kirkus

“With an insightful and irreverent voice, Rossi’s debut is well suited for foodies, feminists, and creative revolutionaries.” — PW